Monday, March 29, 2010

The Palace cannot refer to the Supreme Court ruling that President Arroyo’s posting of the next Chief Justice is not covered by the election ban on appointments in justifying the mass appointments and dismissals in the executive department, Court Administrator and SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said.

The March 17 decision of the high court did not necessarily give her the authority to appoint other government officials during the period covered by the election appointments ban, according to Marquez.

“The decision as concurred in by nine justices, and which is not yet final, only exempts appointments to the SC from the ban,” Marquez added.

Section 15, Article VII of the Constitution bars the President from making appointments two months before and after the May 10 elections.... MORE